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2023’s Mobile App Trends Signal Big Expansion for Augmented Reality in Retail
Several trends in mobile app development for 2023 include wider adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), cloud-based applications, wearable devices, and augmented reality (AR). Leading this growth in adoption is the advancement of technology that makes these innovations more affordable for developers. As creating augmented reality solutions becomes more accessible, the onus falls on customer-facing verticals, like retail, to put them to use.
What’s driving retailers to seek out these solutions? The answer is simple: consumers. In this mobile-first environment, retail consumers spend a third of their day consuming app content. If a retailer isn’t exploring the latest and greatest app technology, it is a surefire bet their competitors are.
Augmented reality holds a world of increasing possibilities for retailers, and more and more apps now include or are launching AR-based capabilities. Max Kraynov from Entrepreneur notes that IKEA is the latest retailer jumping head-first into AR with a virtual “try on” furniture feature on its IKEA Place app.
Do retailers need to catch up if they are late to the augmented reality party? There’s always room for latecomers, but the action is starting to sizzle in 2023. Neil Redding, head of product at Auki Labs, a collaborative spatial computing company developing social AR experiences, understands the excitement surrounding AR, and is predicting a year full of creative retail adoption.
“I believe this year; we’ll see retailers accelerate their use of augmented reality or AR in mobile advertising for a few reasons. Firstly, people will continue to be out in the world more, building on the momentum of the last six to 12 months. Secondly, QR code familiarity continues to grow, which is important because QR codes are still the best and easiest way to get people to engage with out-of-home advertising.
At Auki Labs, we’re seeing a lot of excitement from retail leaders about using QR codes in their physical stores to invite shoppers into the store’s digital layer to experience not just advertising but also get personalized guidance and discover products. And, of course, thirdly, social platforms like Snap, TikTok, and Instagram continue to push AR for brands because people, especially young people, love the playfulness and the ability to be a cute creature or interact with one.
Bottom line: brands and retailers always need new ways to cut through the noise and get people’s attention. And AR is one of the best ways to do this right now.”
Article by James Kent.
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New developments in this field are also appearing, with Leavesden Studios building a dedicated virtual production stage and Ulster University launching a £1.6 million virtual production studio. Last year’s Nostradamus report, which forecasts trends in TV and film, posited that by 2026 virtual production will be the industry norm.
So why is virtual production becoming so popular? One reason is because it allows Directors to save time by making instant changes, as they’re able to view both real and virtual aspects together in real-time. But that’s not all – studios are also beginning to realise the huge financial and environmental benefits.
By reducing shooting time, transport, and crew loads, productions can make hefty financial savings. For example, by adopting virtual production technologies during its 5th season, the limited budget series ‘Snowfall’ saved up to $49,000 an episode.
Executive Producer Lisa Gray explains that “With virtual production, you have the opportunity not to have to travel to as many locations [and] you don’t have those diesel generators on locations you’re sent to.” With 51% of CO2 emissions from Blockbuster films coming from transport and 15% coming from diesel generators, it’s obvious how virtual production can lead to significant emissions savings. Virtual Production Manager Sue McHugh also notes that, because parts of the set can be computer generated, “the lack of physical set disposal is an absolute pleasure… we no longer see the inevitable skips full of destroyed set.”
Virtual production exemplifies just one of the ways cheaper production and greener production can coexist. To maximise the environmental benefits of virtual production, a holistic approach to production is essential, for example moving to eco-friendly LED suppliers and utilising green energy. Nevertheless, it’s an exciting time for virtual production and as Chris Chaundler, Managing Director of London-based production house Quite Brilliant says: “Virtual production is here to stay and has the potential to massively decrease the carbon footprints of productions”
Written by Laura Tendall

domain: news


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MEAT THE FUTURE
a film by Liz Marshall
Premiere’s on documentary Channel
Thursday October 11
To be repeated October 13, 18, 23
Available to stream on GEM, starting October 23
MEAT THE FUTURE is a timely documentary about ‘cultivated meat’, a food science that grows real meat from animal cells, a revolution in food production, proposing a sustainable way to feed the world in the future, without the need to breed and slaughter animals. At the forefront of this urgent new frontier is cardiologist Dr. Uma Valeti, the co-founder and CEO of Memphis Meats, one of the leading start-ups in the field. From a meatball which cost $18,000 per pound in 2016 to the world’s first “clean” chicken fillet in 2017 for half the cost, the film follows Valeti over three years as the cost of production continues to plummet and consumers eye the birth of this industry.
In 2013, Liz Marshall opened our eyes to the inhumanity and environmental impact of animals exploited for food, fashion, entertainment, and research with The Ghosts in Our Machine. The award-winning documentary was seen by hundreds of thousands of viewers in 92 countries.
Now Marshall returns with Meat the Future, a story of human ingenuity and planetary hope inspired by one of this century’s biggest ideas. Cell-based meat could prevent the next global health pandemic.
Animal agriculture dominates nearly half of the world’s land surface, producing more greenhouse gases than all forms of transportation. The prospect of meat consumption doubling by 2050 is not only sobering, it is a wake-up call for solutions. Compared to conventionally-produced beef, cell-based beef is estimated, at scale, to reduce land use by more than 95%, climate change emissions by 74% to 87%, and nutrient pollution by 94%.
Filmed exclusively between 2016 and 2019, Meat the Future follows the genesis phase of the clean meat movement in America, behind the scenes with its pioneers – they are activists, scientists, researchers, marketers and policy experts, all focused on the goal of an ethical, sustainable and profitable food future.
“What the future holds for cell-based meat is unclear,” says director Marshall, “but I believe its revolutionary promise and historic journey into the world will stand the test of time.”


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Sony Ericsson has just opened a new online store in France. It plans to open up many more in other international territories - although more details were unavailable.
When logged on, the new store allows customers to not only buy new mobile phones via the outlet but also accessories for those phones plus other related mobile products.
According to the Unwired website, all of the phones that are bought online are 'unlocked'. Of course, this brings innate benefits to the phone and its use but, because the handsets are not tied into a value for money contract deal, each handset is priced accordingly. That means that, for a top of the range smartphone, you will have to pay out top prices. For example, anyone wanting to buy a Xperia X1 mobile phone will have to fork out €649. Even the purchase of a W995 Walkman will set you back by €489.
Click to read the Unwired website


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JCK Las Vegas Releases 2022 Events, Education Schedule
The opening keynote will dive into the innovative platforms and technologies changing how retailers engage with customers.
Swan Sit, former global head of digital marketing at Nike, Estée Lauder and Revlon, will deliver the keynote at the jewelry trade show.
Titled “Web3 Is Coming—Navigating the Past, Present, and Future of Retail,” the session will dive into innovative platforms and technologies that are emerging and disrupting the way retailers engage with customers to tell a brand’s story.
(According to CNET, web3 refers to an internet integrated with a blockchain or one in which cryptocurrencies and NFTs are built into the platforms.)
Swan will discuss the importance of strategy development for new audiences, including the best use of platforms for the next generation, community development on web3, and what retail brands will look like in the metaverse.
The keynote is open to all JCK and Luxury badge holders. Seating is limited.
Sponsored by Sarine, Sit’s keynote is scheduled for Friday, June 10 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the Palazzo Ballroom at The Venetian.
JCK is also bringing back its JCK Talks education program, sponsored by GIA.
JCK Talks will open a day before the show, beginning with two discussions at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 9 in two Level 1 ballrooms.
From June 10-12, JCK Talks sessions will be held live on the Showcase Stage from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Discussions will dive into various topics including trends, responsibility, sales, retail innovation, and marketing.
JCK is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
The show is slated for Friday, June 10 through Monday, June 13, with Luxury open by-invitation-only on Wednesday, June 8 and Thursday, June 9, and the Gems pavilion opening on Thursday, June 9.
It’s bringing back its popular “JCK Rocks” event on Saturday, June 11 with a performance featuring actor Miguel Cervantes, who is currently playing the titular role of Alexander Hamilton in “Hamilton” on Broadway.
Cervantes will be joined by several other current and former “Hamilton” stars who will perform songs from the acclaimed musical, as well as songs that are a twist on the musical’s score.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for a networking reception, followed by the performance at 9 p.m. and an 30th anniversary afterparty with a DJ, chance to meet the cast, and more networking.
Partners of JCK will also host their annual gala and networking events, including the Diamonds Do Good event on Thursday, June 9, which will include the first presentation of its new Next Gen Awards.
Sunday, June 12 will include Martin Rapaport’s annual breakfast talk, the Jewelers for Children Facets of Hope awards gala, and the LeVian 23rd Red Carpet Revue.
The Luxury keynote presentations will be announced soon.
To learn more or view the full schedule, visit the show’s Events Directory online.
Jewelry and objects belonging to Bette Midler, heiress Hélène Irwin Crocker Fagan, and Lady Sylvia Ashley were among the highlights.
When it comes to knowing the identity and quality of your pearls, count on GIA as your independent pearl experts.
The company opted not to raise its fiscal guidance, citing a slowdown in the U.S. market as a key reason.
From “old-school” eBay to new kid on the block 1stDibs, we asked jewelers about their experiences selling jewelry in non-traditional places.
She has nearly 30 years’ experience in the gem and jewelry industry and a background in nonprofit management.
Advanced technology levels the playing field, helping jewelers give customers what they want.
Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator chooses the pieces she’d most want to see in person.
“Today’s Wedding Jewelry Consumer” shares data about engagement ring market size, lab-grown and natural diamonds, and more.
The jewelry company is moving into bridal just a month after branching out into the watch world.
The 2008 economic crisis, COVID-19, and sanctions on Russian goods have set the stage for an interesting decade for natural diamond supply.
Kaiser, whose illustrious career spanned decades, died suddenly on Friday.
He will step into the retailer’s newly created role of chief development officer.
GemIntro is meant to give a broad introduction to gems and gemology.
Three industry experts discuss “recycled” gold vs. mined, their challenges and benefits, and how jewelers can navigate the area.
Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Buccellati put on stellar performances.
The New York jeweler made this incredible, colorful Art Deco bracelet featuring tropical birds in 1927.
From a slowdown in sales growth to rising costs, Fruchtman Marketing outlines its expectations for the second half of the year.
Once a part of Julius Klein Group, the diamond company combines its direct supply and cutting expertise with a keen eye to the future.


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Marriott to double regional luxury portfolio
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL plans to double its Middle East and Africa luxury portfolio to 60 hotels in the next five years.
Speaking at an event on the lawns of RitzCarlton Dubai, Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East & Africa, said luxury remains “fundamental to our success”. Eight of Marriott’s 30 brands occupy the top tier.
Bulgari Resort Dubai is due to open early December and new year launches include St. Regis Cairo, W Dubai Palm Jumeirah, St Regis Amman and W Amman, and a Luxury Collection hotel in Aqaba. Next year is also shaping up to be a key year for the Edition brand, with eight properties on the anvil, including one in Abu Dhabi.
Lisa Holladay, Global brand leader for Ritz- Carlton and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, flew in from Washington DC to attend the dinner. She said newly enlarged Marriott International now features 380 high-end properties across 60 countries following the Starwood takeover.
“At some point we are going to have to decide whether we start saying nine luxury brands, as we have another brand extension – the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection,” she said. The first of three yachts is due to set sail in 2019.


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Ford Motor (F) Stake Lessened by Voloridge Investment Management LLC
Voloridge Investment Management LLC lessened its stake in Ford Motor (NYSE:F) by 42.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,998,521 shares of the auto manufacturer’s stock after selling 1,452,176 shares during the quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC owned 0.05% of Ford Motor worth $15,289,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Municipal Employees Retirement System of Michigan bought a new stake in Ford Motor in the 4th quarter worth about $804,000. Gotham Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Ford Motor during the 4th quarter valued at about $14,421,000. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Ford Motor during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,181,000. Financial Advocates Investment Management grew its stake in shares of Ford Motor by 10.0% during the 4th quarter. Financial Advocates Investment Management now owns 75,132 shares of the auto manufacturer’s stock valued at $625,000 after purchasing an additional 6,825 shares during the period. Finally, Paloma Partners Management Co grew its stake in shares of Ford Motor by 187.0% during the 4th quarter. Paloma Partners Management Co now owns 37,185 shares of the auto manufacturer’s stock valued at $285,000 after purchasing an additional 24,229 shares during the period. 52.59% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Seaport Global Securities assumed coverage on Ford Motor in a research note on Wednesday, February 13th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $8.46 price target for the company. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $11.00 price objective on shares of Ford Motor in a research note on Tuesday, January 8th. Zacks Investment Research downgraded Ford Motor from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 3rd. ValuEngine downgraded Ford Motor from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 2nd. Finally, Deutsche Bank began coverage on Ford Motor in a research note on Thursday, December 13th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $10.29.
Ford Motor (NYSE:F) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 23rd. The auto manufacturer reported $0.30 EPS for the quarter, hitting the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.30. Ford Motor had a return on equity of 14.38% and a net margin of 2.29%. The company had revenue of $38.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $36.83 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.39 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up .5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Ford Motor will post 1.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 31st were issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, January 30th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.97%. Ford Motor’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.15%.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY NOTICE: This article was originally posted by The Cerbat Gem and is owned by of The Cerbat Gem. If you are viewing this article on another site, it was illegally copied and republished in violation of U.S. & international copyright and trademark legislation. The correct version of this article can be viewed at https://www.thecerbatgem.com/2019/03/21/ford-motor-f-stake-lessened-by-voloridge-investment-management-llc.html.
Ford Motor Company Profile
Ford Motor Company designs, manufactures, markets, and services a range of Ford cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles, and electrified vehicles worldwide. It operates through three segments: Automotive, Mobility, and Ford Credit. The Automotive segment sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments.
Further Reading: The Structure of a Futures Contract
Want to see what other hedge funds are holding F? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ford Motor (NYSE:F).
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Two of Gordon Lamb’s car dealerships in Chesterfield have installed solar in an attempt to drive down their electricity costs.
The solar arrays, installed by Mark Group, consist of 480 modules arranged over a number of roofs and are predicted to generate around 100,000kWh annually – enough to drive an electric car for over 4,000 miles. The installation at its Land Rover dealership is 40kWp and at its Skoda Nissan dealership is 80kWp.
Gordan Lamb operates a number of franchises across the Midlands and decided to investigate installing solar to help combat escalating bills but also, to help reduce overheads across the business.
Chris Roberts, head of renewable power products at Mark Group said: “It has been estimated that the income generated each year across the two dealerships from reduced import and revenue from the feed-in tariff will be over £20,000. The payback period against the initial investment averages out at six years.
“Solar PV is an increasingly popular solution for businesses for many reasons; the electricity generated is close to the point of contact which reduces the amount of electricity the business has to purchase and businesses can generate an income through the government’s feed-in tariff.
“The electricity generated also produces zero CO2 emissions which is particularly helpful if the business has to report carbon emissions and has a corporate social responsibility target – which many these days do.”
Gordon Lamb sees the solar array as a fitting complement to the growth it has seen in the electric and hybrid vehicle market. “The solar PV installation has already started to contribute to our business and is a help to us when promoting the benefits of energy savings on electric cars.
“It puts into perspective how we can make better use of energy by simply harnessing solar power and charging the Nissan Leaf electric car, reducing energy bills and also allowing us to be more carbon friendly,” said Kheng Lim, financial director, Gordon Lamb.


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Despite significant government funding, Ford Motor Co. is projected to lose $3 billion in its electric vehicle division this year.
Last week, Ford CFO John Lawler addressed this loss, suggesting that it is an expected step in the process of creating EVs. He said, “As everyone knows, EV startups lose money while they invest in capabilities, develop knowledge, build volume, and gain share.”
“We’ve essentially ‘refounded’ Ford, with business segments that provide new degrees of strategic clarity, insight, and accountability to the Ford+ plan for growth and value,” Lawler said about the company’s recent push towards EV production. “It’s not only about changing how we report financial results; we’re transforming how we think, make decisions and run the company, and allocate capital for highest returns.”
Last year, the company received $100 million to hire 3,030 workers for EV production. Just two months later, Ford laid off 3,000 white-collar workers, mainly in Michigan. That same year, Ford lost $2.1 billion in its EV division – totaling a loss of $5 billion in two years.
Trending: Silver Spoons Actor Ricky Schroeder Speaks Out Exposing Horrific Global Satanic Cult He Experienced In Hollywood [VIDEO]
Ford CEO and President Jim Farley spoke to Fox News about the reality of producing EVs, insisting that the US cannot continue to import batteries and earth minerals if its lawmakers want to continue the push towards streamlining EVs.
“No one makes more full-size trucks than we do in America,” said Farley. “We have to on-shore this stuff. We have to have mines and processing to build a digital economy here in the US. We cannot continue to import batteries and rare earth from overseas. We have to move it to America.
“We’re willing to invest, but we have to have people in partnership with government that’s going to improve mines, improve processing,” Farley added. “These sites are really important. We can build all the plants, but what’s the good if we’re importing batteries?”
According to company officials, it is anticipated that Ford’s EV, the “Ford Model e,” will be profitable before taxes by late 2026 with an 8% pretax profit margin.
According to Wells Fargo analyst Colin Langan, Ford Motor will need to save an additional $15,000 per vehicle to achieve this profit margin.
In order to achieve this cost reduction, Farley said that the “key” to mass-producing EVs is “scaling and getting the manufacturing facility more efficient.”
“Every decision is about optimizing energy efficiency so that we can get the smallest battery possible to hit the range target that we have for that vehicle,” Farley said.


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Apple is once again offering Product (RED) iTunes gift cards with the purchase of any qualifying iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Mac bought on Black Friday. The promotion is now live in the U.S., and here's how it works:
$25 for an iPod, Apple TV, or Beats by Dr. Dre headphones.
The Black Friday deal is U.S. only, but the Cyber Monday donations will be international. So, if you can't get a gift card in your country today, you can still help contribute to AIDS research on Monday.


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SUNDERLAND’S leading shopping centre is preparing to welcome new and old students to the city – with a special evening of exclusive discounts, DJs and giveaways.
On Monday 2 October, the Bridges shopping centre, Sunderland, will be hosting its annual Student Raid: a special, one night shopping event for people attending the region’s universities or colleges.
And this year’s raid, which is now in its seventh year, is set to be the biggest and most memorable yet.
The Bridges has partnered up with leading student discount provider UNiDAYS to promote the night – which runs from 6.30pm until late – and already, dozens of the shopping centre’s retailers have signed up to take part.
Stores offering discounts include Topshop, River Island and Footasylum offering 20 per cent off with some other retailers discounting items by as much as 30 per cent.
Activities within the centre on the night include games, giveaways and competitions.
Samantha Czwordon-Wright, marketing manager at the Bridges is delighted to see the popular event return:
“The student raid is one of our favourite events we hold here at the Bridges and once again, we are amazed at the fantastic discounts that many of our retailers will be offering,” she said.
“The event is always really popular and it’s a great way for us to showcase the strong retail offering we have here, to both new and returning students.”
The event is free to attend but students must register beforehand by visiting the Bridges website from September.


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New Game Shows 2022 On Game Show Network. Gsn network sony corporation directv. Netflix south korean drama the squid game will open a new facet.
Netflix south korean drama the squid game will open a new facet. Bol tv whatsapp number 2020 03021699132 game show tv show games news games. The pay cable network is currently in the 'early.
We Saw The Pilot And It’s Perfectly Fine But Admittedly Removes A Lot Of What Makes Tic Tac Dough.
Hosted by niecy nash, this game show will put contestants to the test when. Best tv shows of may 2022. Bol tv whatsapp number 2020 03021699132 game show tv show games news games.
Since 2021) Common Knowledge (Since 2019) Master Minds (Since 2019) People Puzzler (Since 2021) Tug Of Words (Since 2021) Former.
Released in 2021, squid game quickly became an international success. Kahoot hack answers 2021 unblocked. But happily for you, we’ve put together an exhaustive (oh, so exhaustive) list of everything that was announced, featured, or.
Game Show Network Original Programming.
The visuals, the costumes, and the theme turned squid game. It’s not even fully known if this one is coming in 2022 so stay tuned. The pay cable network is currently in the 'early.
1 Hour Agodec 22 2021 29 Of 57 The Best Shows That Speak To Generation Z 28 Of 29 New Tv Shows Of The Last Few Years You Love To Hate 30 Of 47 The Best Current Dark Comedy Tv.
Squid game reality show will offer $4.56 million as the cash prize. June 2022's top upcoming series to watch May 13, 2022 june 1, 2022.
The Pc Gaming Show 2022 Has Been And Gone, And Everyone At The Rps Treehouse Is Now Absolutely Exhausted.
A ton of new game pass titles were shown off, and shortly after the show’s end, xbox's official twitter account shared a new image online. A ludicrous amount of work for a sunday evening. Netflix south korean drama the squid game will open a new facet.


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The manufacturer of the life-saving EpiPen has issued a recall because of a defective part.
Four recent batches of EpiPen for adults (300 microgram adrenaline injection syringe auto-injectors) sold in Australia are being recalled. The batches amount to approximately 80,000 devices worldwide.
The recall was started because of two confirmed cases of the auto-injectors failing to activate correctly or needing more force than normal.
EpiPen is used in emergency situations to treat people who are having a severe allergic reaction (also known as anaphylaxis), including to nuts and bee stings.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration said there was a risk that a patient may not receive the required dose of adrenaline in time, if at all.
"If this happens, it could result in a worsening of the potentially life-threatening symptoms of anaphylaxis," it said.
The administration is urging those with EpiPen's from batches 5FA665, 5FA6651, 5FA6652 or 5FA6653 (above and all of which expire in April 2017) to return them to their pharmacy.
Pharmacists will replace the EpiPen free of charge.
No other batches of EpiPen, including the child's version (EpiPen Jr 150 microgram adrenaline injection syringe auto-injectors), are known to be affected by the issue.
Patients are advised to keep their current auto-injector in case of emergency, until a replacement is received.
US company Meridian Medical Technologies manufactured the recalled product.


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Ashley Brand, Stephen Roney, Renita Brand and Curt Brand at Sunsation Spa on the business’s first day of operation.
Two students in Drake’s College of Business and Public Administration recently opened a spa and tanning salon in Drake’s West Village, the University’s mixed-use housing and retail complex west of campus on 31st Street.
Sunsation Spa, located on the West Village’s ground level, is a joint venture between Ashley Brand, a junior marketing management major from Urbandale, Iowa, and Stephen Roney, a senior general business major from Des Moines.
Brand’s parents, Curt and Renita of Urbandale, initially provided funding for the enterprise and now serve as business advisers.
The company, which opened its doors for business last month, offers specials and discounts for Drake students and alumni.
“I live in Drake West Village and my boyfriend, Stephen, and I started considering the idea of opening a tanning salon in the complex,” said Brand, who will graduate in December 2010.
“When Drake West Village was built, they did a study to see what the student body wanted for retail shops, and a tanning salon ranked in the top three.
“Stephen and I did a lot of research on tanning beds and the companies that produce them. We also researched the impact of indoor tanning on people and health to learn about vitamin D, ultraviolet light and light therapy.”
Renita Brand, Steve Niebuhr from Hubbell Realty, Drake West Village representative Kally Knudsen, Ashley Brand, Stephen Roney and Curt Brand joined in for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
As the managing owner of Sunsation Spa, Brand is in charge of
supervising the business’s employees, 10 of whom are Drake students.
She also creates the company’s marketing materials.
When asked how she balances managing her own business with keeping up
with her schoolwork, Brand cited her organizational skill as the key to
her success. “I have always considered myself to be a very organized
person, but Sunsation Spa has definitely pushed me to a new level.
“I get to apply the concepts I’m learning in class right now to my
business, and that has made each of my classes more exciting for me. I
feel like our business professors have really stood behind us in this
Brand and Roney’s professors helped the students by distributing a survey asking students what they want from a tanning salon.
The results helped guide the spa’s marketing and pricing strategies,
which are geared toward Drake students. Special packages are designed
to maximize flexibility and affordability for students.
There is no traditional membership fee to join the spa, and students
can freeze their accounts in the summer. They can also have fees
automatically withdrawn from checking accounts every month.
Sunsation Spa offers a variety of membership levels and minutes
packages, which can be found online or by inquiring at the store during
regular business hours. The spa is open:
- 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday
- 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday
- 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday


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The authors write that sin taxes — taxes on items and behaviors such as alcohol, tobacco, and gambling — are gaining popularity, especially in regard to soft drinks and junk food, in the hope of thwarting obesity trends.
Utah State University
Huntsman, Research, Soda, Sin Taxes
USU Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, "Huntsman Research on Soda-Related "Sin Taxes" Makes National News" (2013). Jon M. Huntsman School of Business News Collection. 137.


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Thursday, October 20, 2011
Ramtron Names Marketing VP
Colorado Springs-based Ramtron has named a new marketing VP, the firm announced today. According to the company, it has appointed Scott Emley as its Vice President of Marketing, reporting to CEo Eric Balzer. Emley joins the firm from Texas Instruments, and has also served at Luminary Micro before its acquisition by TI; Marvell Semiconductor, and Intel. Ramtron is a developer of ferroelectric random access memory semiconductors.


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Fall officially begins Saturday at 9:49 a.m. We are distancing ourselves from the extreme, record-breaking heat of August and heading into the more tranquil temperatures of October.
One favorite pastime this time of year is to travel to some of our state's best destinations to see the colors change. One big question is how will this exceptional drought affect the color of the trees? Some trees have gone dormant and are browning. I noticed this recently during a trip to Grand Lake in northeast Oklahoma. Most trees that I saw, though, are not this way.
From the research I've done on this, we need rainfall now. Most trees are strained and this will help the short term conditions. It should give the trees a color bump going toward late October. According to Dave Shaw, the owner of Buffalo Creek Guest Ranch in Talihina, "An early light frost, a little moisture and little wind can overcome the drought."
Some are optimistic a great fall watching season is ahead, while others are more leery. Last year, despite a major drought, conditions improved enough to allow the fall color to be pretty. Here is a link to bookmark for the best travel destinations for fall color in Oklahoma: Oklahoma Fall Foliage and Festivals.
Here is to safe travels and great fall color!


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Raconteur is searching for the most magnificent marketing leaders in the UK, and needs your help!
We’re looking for marketers at director, VP and CMO level who are doing something innovative or interesting in their industry. Whether it’s creating immersive customer experiences with the latest technology, driving brand ambassador programmes or really tackling the age-old challenge of sales and marketing alignment and witnessing real results.
The top seven marketers, as chosen by our editorial team, will feature in Raconteur’s upcoming Future CMO Special Report to be published in The Times on 25 May.
To nominate an individual just fill in the short form below. The deadline for nominations is 12 May 2017.
You can check out last year’s Future CMO Special Report here.


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Tata Motors gets a makeover, once again
But Tata Motors still wants to be a full service player. At the Auto Expo that just ended, it showcased its new range of products — Zica, Kite5, Nexon and Hexa. None of them resemble the Indica.business Updated: Feb 15, 2016 18:37 IST
Five years ago when Timothy Liverton joined Tata Motors as the head of product planning and engineering, the domestic carmaker was struggling to keep its head above water. Indica, the company’s most sold car, had fallen from its prime in 2004. It looked old and weary, as if creaking under its own weight.
Hyundai i10 and i20, Maruti Swift, Toyota Liva, Ford Figo, and Volkswagen Polo had entered the market with superior style and better technology. That relegated the Indica to just the fleet operators’ favourite. Soon, even they shifted loyalty to Maruti’s Dzire, and Toyota’s Etios. Tata Motors’ market share is down to a third of its peak of 16.9% in 2004-05. “The industry has changed a lot,” says Liverton, who has worked with BMW and Jaguar-LandRover (JLR) — the latter is now owned by Tata Motors.
Two years ago, Tata Motors launched a campaign called Horizon Next. It sounded more like a marketing gimmick. Two new products were launched, the Zest and the Bolt. Though the cars had interesting features and did not look like the Indica, they were modified extension of the old platform. They did not do well.
The new “cool” cars
In the 1990s two Indian commercial vehicle makers — Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) — wanted to become full-service automobile manufacturers. M&M wanted a larger play in the SUV market, and Tata in passenger cars. M&M did try to make cars in partnership with Renault, but its only product, the Logan bombed. “We will be an SUV player. Even our latest launch is a crossover SUV,” says Pawan Goenka, executive director of M&M.
But Tata Motors still wants to be a full service player. At the Auto Expo that just ended, it showcased its new range of products — Zica, Kite5, Nexon and Hexa. None of them resemble the Indica.
Hexa is an SUV, to be launched next year. Zica, the “zippy” car, which is looking for a new name after the Zika virus outbreak, is an all new car. “We are also coming out with a new sedan (Kite 5),” says Girish Wagh, senior vice-president – programme, planning and management for passenger cars.
Wagh’s challenge is to launch two new products every year. “It was important for the brand to be cool, for the cars to look sleeker, to have infotainment and connectivity gadgets,” says Wagh. Every time Tata Motors launches a car, it will be more youthful. That is important. “If you can’t get people through the door of your dealership you are in trouble,” says design head Pratap Bose.
A little bit of JLR
When Liverton joined, the design team’s office was like a cubby hole. A team of 25 people sat and designed vehicles that looked distinct from the modern ones brought in by the MNCs. Today the team has more than 300 people. Two-thirds of those are in Italy, and rest in the UK. They have started working closely with JLR.
Design and engineering have been brought together. The cars are developed, tested and produced with both the departments working in tandem. That is something JLR taught Tata Motors. Liverton also infused the team with the understanding, again learned at JLR, of how to make teams work together towards a common goal. “The development process was completely overhauled,” Liverton says. If Tata Motors launches two new vehicles every year, it will have 10 new ones by 2020. Some of those, he says, can become global products.
Tata Motors being a listed company, brokerages and bankers are taking note. “For the India business, we believe 2014-15 marked the earnings trough, and we expect gradual recovery from there, with EBITDA margins swinging from -2% in 2014-15 to 9% by 2017-18, driven by sharp volume recovery across segments,” writes Binay Singh of Morgan Stanley. EBITDA margins are a key indicator of financial health.
It’s not just about new vehicles. Liverton will have to see that the cars are also refreshed from time to time. The Indica was flogged for years with cosmetic changes. Others in the stable — Safari, Indigo, Sumo — have also spent much time looking to be in severe need of new trims. Some of the old horses may at some point be riding into the sunset. But is this a new sunrise for Tata Motors?


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Aldi opened its sixth store on Thursday the 5th of October in the Edinburgh area, with its latest addition situated in the Cameron Toll Shopping Centre. Local Olympic rugby hero Mark Robertson tackled the all-important ribbon cutting with the help of the 75th Braid Scout Group, as the store officially opens its doors to local shoppers.
The Team GB star, who won silver in the Rugby 7s at the Rio Olympics, said “I’m so excited to attend the Cameron Toll opening. Edinburgh has a special place in my heart after playing for Edinburgh Rugby for four years, so I’m really looking forward to meeting the customers and being part of the ceremony.
“The store will be a great asset to the local community and as an athlete I know the importance of eating well. Aldi’s amazing fresh Scottish produce and Super6 range of fruit and veg makes it so easy and accessible to everyone.”
We’re excited to welcome Aldi to Cameron Toll shopping centre, why not check it out now!


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NEW YORK, NY (August 17, 2021) — Inc. magazine today revealed that Bintelli LLC is No. 4,581on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.
“Being ranked on the INC5000 for a third time is an incredible honor. It’s no secret that the last few years have been extremely difficult and I’m extremely proud of my entire team for rising to the challenge to make our growth possible. In the last three years our staff size has grown by 260% and the footprint of our facilities have grown by 286%. I’m astounded when I look at those numbers! It’s an honor to work with such amazing people every single day and this award is a team award and one I share with my entire staff. I’m extremely excited about what the future holds for us all and couldn’t be prouder of being included on the INC5000 list,” says Bintelli Founder and President, Justin Jackrel.
Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this year’s list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020’s unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared to 543 percent, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, those companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years.
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc., which will be available on newsstands on August 20.
“The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we’ve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.”
More about Bintelli LLC
Bintelli LLC is a manufacturer and distributor of powersport products with stocking dealers across the United States. They manufacturer street legal golf carts, most notably the Bintelli Beyond, one of the best-selling electric vehicles in the low speed vehicle industry. The Bintelli Beyond, along with Bintelli’s other main product lines – electric bicycles and gas powered mopeds and scooters are sold throughout the country in their authorized dealerships and through www.Bintelli.com. All vehicles and parts ship from their facilities located throughout South Carolina.
More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000
Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.
Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places. There was one tie on this year’s Inc. 5000. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.
Originally seen on Golf Car Advisor


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New Delhi, 12/6 (AO Bureau): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the GST Council has agreed to reduce the tax rate on Remdesivir from 12 to 5 percent. There will be no tax on Tocilimab, Amphotericin. He said that the rate of GST on ambulances has been reduced from 28 percent to 12 percent. The rate of GST on oximeters, medical grade oxygen and ventilators has also been reduced from 12% to 5%.
Giving information about the 44th GST Council meeting, Nirmala Sitharaman said that the GST Council has agreed to maintain the tax rate of five percent on vaccines. The Finance Minister said that the Center will buy 75% of the vaccine and also pay its GST, but 70% of the income from GST will be shared with the states.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the central government is buying 75% of the vaccine and is also paying GST on it. This 75% vaccine which is being provided free of cost to the people in government hospitals will not have any effect on the public.


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NBSM awards NS mark to 28 foreign goods
Kathmandu, January 10
The Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) has granted Nepal Standard or NS mark to 28 goods produced by 22 Indian and Chinese industries.
Those receiving the NS mark are the OPC and PPC cement produced by Aadhunik, Ultratech, Alstrom, India Cement Ltd, Jayapirewa Plant, Star Cement, and Calcum Industries of India, LPG cylinders and valves produced by Rajasthan Cylinder Industry, Delhi LPG Valve, Gas Droid, Hari Udhyog, Prabha Electronic, Sarbamangalam Petroleum, Surya Shakti and Baltra Associates, India, and iron bars from BK Steel Ltd, Stat Steels and Saloja Steels, India.
Likewise, composite cylinders produced by Supreme Industry and Time Technoplates, India have also been awarded with the NS certification.
The NBSM has awarded the NS mark to a Chinese regulator company Ningbo Sui Xin.
Although other countries had been providing their country’s standard mark to goods produced in Nepal or by Nepali industries since long, Nepal started providing its standard mark only recently
when Nabindra Raj Joshi was the minister for industry.
NBSM Director General Bishwobabu Pudasaini, said that the number of foreign industries acquiring the Nepal standard mark has been gradually increasing. “We have been granting NS certification to the foreign companies applying for the same after fulfilling the required procedures,” he said.
Meanwhile, NBSM has granted licence to 369 various types of goods of 60 different categories manufactured by 250 industries within and outside the country till date.


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A new cryptocurrency coin that is 99 percent lighter than Bitcoin and 90 percent lighter than Ethereum has been developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This is according to a post published on jan.23 by the MITNews blog.
The new cryptocurrency coin is dubbed Vault and its set to be presented at the upcoming Network and Distributed System Security Symposium (NDSS) in the coming month. The blog post notes that Vault lets new “users join the network by downloading only a fraction of the total transaction data.”
The new cryptocurrency coin uses PoS
To ensure that it’s efficient the new cryptocurrency coin deletes all empty accounts and allows the verification of transactions by employing only the most recent transaction data.
According to the post, tests conducted on the network revealed:
“In experiments, Vault reduced the bandwidth for joining its network by 99 percent compared to Bitcoin and 90 percent compared to Ethereum, which is considered one of today’s most efficient cryptocurrencies. Importantly, Vault still ensures that all nodes validate all transactions, providing tight security equal to its existing counterparts.”
Interestingly, the block size of Vault is only 10MB which equals 10,000 transactions. Also, each of the blocks has the hash of the previous block. It’s impressive when compared to Bitcoin transactions where a new user has to download around 500,000 blocks that equal to approximately 150 GB to ensure they store all the account balances and verify transactions.
However, unlike Bitcoin, the new cryptocurrency coin is based on the proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain known as
So, Vault lets users verify blocks using the information only a few hundred or thousand blocks in the past. It’s a method known as “breadcrumb.”
What’s your take on Vault, the new crypto coin lighter than Bitcoin and Ethereum? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.


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- Two men face charges in Cape prostitution sting (5/28/17)
- Former coroner convicted of felony theft now faces prison in misdemeanor case (5/23/17)2
- Police: Woman arrested after meth found hidden in pants (5/26/17)4
- Woman may lose foot after being hit by moped (5/24/17)
- Illinois Trail of Tears site where Cherokee buried named to National Historic Register (5/24/17)
- Business notebook: Woman, sister-in-law buy Perryville custom-wear shop (5/22/17)
- Police apprehend Charleston man they say hit Cape woman with car (5/24/17)
- Rabies confirmed in Cape County after person bitten by bat (5/26/17)
- Man with prior sex convictions charged with abuse of a child 10 years ago (5/25/17)2
- New features at Cape Splash geared for kids; revenue has exceeded costs by more than $200K (5/24/17)1
Use local PR, marketing folks for city tourism
To the editor:
Before hiring professional consultants on how to market Cape Girardeau, I believe the Convention and Visitors Bureau director could reach out to some of the professionals in public relations and marketing in town first as a preliminary step.
There are PR and marketing folks at the university. Some upper-class PR and marketing students could help with this venture by doing a lot of the leg work.
When I was in school, we had real clients. We had a promotion plan which addressed costs, publicity, surveys, how it was measured, target markets and the competition.
Local talent could be used only as a first step - then do the consultant thing.
VANCE S. PAWIELSKI


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee lawmakers will work on a plan that could save you and your family some cash.
The two bills could change the tax on some necessity items. One bill looks to eliminate sales tax on diapers and baby wipes. The other would add feminine hygiene products onto the list of approved items eligible for tax-free weekend.
Sen. Katrina Robinson (D -- Memphis) introduced the pro-family bill earlier this year to cut taxes on some baby items to help new families. The average 44-count box of diapers at Walmart costs $24. With the Davidson County sales tax, that’s more than $2 in tax per-box.
The net impact would be big on the decrease in revenue for the state. It’s estimated the state would take in about $9.8 million less in net revenue for fiscal year 2020-2021.
The other bill submitted by Sen. Sara Kyle (D -- Memphis) would add pads and tampons to the list of items eligible for no tax during tax free weekend. It would lead to an estimated decrease in about $133,000 in state revenue.
"I would just urge a very small amount of dollars but sends a very large signal that our state is taking an important step in recognizing these products as a necessity and they are an essential part of women's health,” said Sen. Kyle.
Both of those bills will be heard in the senate later Tuesday.


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Google has been working on a pretty remarkable change of how user search results may soon look. Celebrities and businesses may be able to provide a rich experience about their message to Google Search users in the future. Check out the article from The Verge below:
Google has begun experimenting with an entirely new format for search results, which could eventually let any brand, celebrity, or organization have a dedicated Twitter-like feed built right into the company’s search engine. Google first started employing it last month by letting presidential campaigns post lengthy debate rebuttals — and later by curating candidates’ stances on key issues like gun control and immigration. The design of these search results is similar to Google’s mobile “cards,” which can be swiped as well as clicked or tapped on to expand for more information.
Now the same tools are being extended to small businesses and could potentially be offered to celebrities and bigger-name brands. The change, which Google confirmed to The Verge was a test, was noticed first by search expert Mike Blumenthal, who was searching for engagement ring stores in Buffalo, New York and came across a specially designed advertisement for local seller Andrew Jewelers. Clicking on one of Andrew Jewelers’ posts, which are curated into a Twitter feed-like stream of ads, opens up a dedicated full-screen webpage with text and photos. You can also share the individual posts from the search results page, but you can’t like or comment on any of them. You could imagine this feature working for, say, Kanye West and his clothing line.
A new type of search result designed for self-promotion
The initiative looks similar to a new product called Google Posts, which now has its own dedicated website. (A Google representative told The Verge that the initiative is not called Google Posts, and does not have a name.) The company calls Posts an “experimental new podium on Google” where you can “now communicate with text, images and videos directly” on the search engine. The page says it’s limited to the 2016 US presidential campaign. “In the future, we plan to make it available to other prominent figures and organizations. If you’re interested, please join the waitlist,” the website reads. It looks like the expansion has already started.
Google’s push to create new and more dynamic search results could help it establish both a social presence and a new advertising product within its most used piece of software. Google’s oft-forgotten social network, Google+, remains woefully out of the picture, and the company has increasingly been looking for new methods to keep the web relevant in the age of the mobile app. So it would make sense for Google to extend the same powerful search and social features it’s given to presidential candidates to brands and other high-profile people. Google says it does not plan on charging for this feature.
Update at 8:55PM ET on Friday, March 4th: Added comment from Google confirming the test.
Update at 9:20PM ET on Friday, March 4th: A Google representative clarified that the search results initiative is not called Google Posts, and does not have a name.


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VC group recommends changes to center plan
VALLEY CENTER -- After approving a controversial plan for thecommunity’s first large shopping center two weeks ago, the ValleyCenter Community Planning Group met again Monday to debate whatmodifications the developer should be asked to make.
The panel, which makes land-use recommendations to the county,decided that the developer of the proposed Village Square at ValleyCenter needed to address traffic problems, preserve oak trees andprovide affordable housing, among other issues.
The panel rejected a proposal that would have required thedeveloper to reduce the size of the 185,000-square-foot complex atCole Grade and Valley Center roads.
Monday’s meeting at Valley Center Lower Elementary School drew acrowd considerably smaller than the previous two meetings on theproposed shopping center. At those meetings, hundreds of residentsangrily debated the merits of the center, which has split thisrural community.
Opponents have bashed the project’s design and size as anoutdated “strip mall” concept that doesn’t fit in with thecommunity’s character.
The center, designed by Los Angeles-based Weston Associates,would include retail space -- including room for the community’sfirst major grocery story -- offices and 63 townhomes.
The planning group’s “shopping center subcommittee” rejected thedesign earlier this year but that recommendation was essentiallyignored by the full panel May 24. The panel approved the shoppingcenter plan, with the agreement that it would consider a list of 16conditions.
By Monday, that list had grown to 31 conditions andsub-conditions. The group passed seven of the 11 conditionsdiscussed at the meeting.
The agreed-upon conditions require the developer to:
- Add a road connecting Cole Grade and Miller roads, at thenorthwest corner of the residential units.
- Eliminate a traffic signal at Cole Grade Road to allow onlyright turns into and out of the shopping center.
- Set aside at least 1/4 of the residential area for openspace.
- Preserve all oak trees more than 8 inches in diameter unlessfinancial hardship can be documented.
The oak trees have been a hot topic at previous meetings. Whilethere are 18 oaks currently at the 30-acre lot, the developer hadplans to retain seven of the trees and plant 75 new oaks as part ofthe landscaping. Planning Group Chairwoman Sandy Smith said it wasimportant to save the existing trees as well.
“There are oaks at the edge of the parking lot that should beable to be saved,” Smith said. “When you drive by right now you seea whole oak riparian area and I think this will serve as aprecedent for other oaks in the area. It saddens me that wewouldn’t save these oaks.”
- Increase the project density to allow for affordable housing,as defined by the federal department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment). Planning group member Jim Yerdon said that creatingaffordable homes is essential.
“I am not talking about affordable rental housing, that is notthe intent here,” Yerdon said. “Creating affordable owner units isnot that hard to do.”
- Contribute a “fair share,” as defined by the county, to theimprovement of Valley Center Road if the road improvements are notcomplete by the start of construction.
- Provide more interesting texture and landscaping to the wallssurrounding the project at Valley Center and Cole Grade roads.
The Planning Group denied conditions reducing the square footageof the center, replacing the current wastewater plans, andrequiring access to the project from the Valley Center PostOffice.
The group did not set another date for further projectdiscussion. They will hold their regular monthly meeting Monday atthe Valley Center Community Center at 7 p.m. The shopping center isnot on the agenda.


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It’s been down big the past week. But when it gets to new IPO and electric vehicle pick-up play Rivian Automotive is it time to back up the truck on Rivain stock? Today let’s look at what’s under the veil both off and on the price chart in RIVN, then request a risk-adjusted resolution aligned with those outcomes. If your pace on the stock market lengthens beyond the 15 seconds assigned to the S&P 500 or Dow Jones on the nightly news, your informed growth stocks have rapidly come under pressure also.
Honorably, the diverse price action jarringly confirms, as growth investors found out before this year that the stock market is truly made up of stocks. And Rivainm is caught in those market crosshairs as Wall Street reexamines its fling with important stocks at the expense of higher and no multiple narratives.
But Rivian is different, right?
Rivian can tag both Ford Motors and Amazon as big-time stakeholders. Combined, they virtually own one-third of Rivain stock. Also, Amazon’s well-publicized order for 100,000 vehicles as the tech behemoth propels its massive commercial line of vehicles to renewables. When it gets to Rivian, there is confidence. It’s not just speaking, either. But to refer to the Oracle of Omaha, price is what you pay, and value is what you obtain. And from investors other than Ford or Amazon caught buying Rivain $78 a share IPO to those more aggressively buying shares for as much as $179.47 or today’s $118 and just north of $100 billion.
Among its peers, Rivain shares rank only behind Tesla and Toyota Motors in market capitalization. Be skeptical of today’s Sticker price. Rivian bulls might contend somewhat rightfully that Tesla proved what had previously not been feasible. Therefore, the bar in Rivain should be rightfully acclaimed for up-and-coming EV stocks.


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Developers Alliance signs joint industry letter on the upcoming revision of the EU liability framework
- Developers Alliance joins industry outreach on software product liability and the AI liability directive
- Industry letter highlights issues with increasing liability for stand-alone software regulation
- Applying “strict liability” to software is inappropriate and will damage developers
The Developers Alliance has joined other associations representing startups, SMEs, and technology companies in reaching out to the European Commission on the upcoming proposals to revise the Directive on the liability for defective products (PLD) and the proposal for a directive to adapt liability rules to Artificial Intelligence (AI Liability Directive).
The joint industry letter calls for a proportionate approach in regulating software and imposing liability on software developers, considering the existing legislation already covering digital products. In particular, it details industry positions against applying strict liability for standalone software, against extending the scope of damages to non-material damages and against reversing the burden of proof.
The upcoming proposals are related to the proposals for an AI Act and an updated regulation on General Product Safety, currently in legislative process. Developers Alliance is actively following these proposals and engaging with EU lawmakers to explain the impact on European developers’ businesses and on the future of software development.
The letter can be found here.


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Wednesday 3rd January 2018
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Tapware designer Methven named Jannine Mountford as chief financial officer and company secretary, saying it was confident the former NZ Rugby and Fletcher Building executive would help drive long-term profitable growth.
Mountford replaces Deidre Campbell, who departed last month after 16 years with the Auckland-based company. Mountford was CFO at the NZRU for four years until December 2016 and before that spent almost five years as commercial manager for Fletcher's Roof Tile Group. She was group financial controller at Hynds Pipe Systems between February 1999 and July 2008.
According to her Linked In profile, she was CFO-designate at AWF Madison between February and June 2017, however in May last year AWF said Mountford had resigned and wouldn't take up that CFO job.
In November, Methven told shareholders that profit growth stalled in the first half because of restructuring costs but was expected to rise on a constant currency basis in 2018.
The shares last traded at $2.33 and have declined 11 percent in the past 12 months.
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MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares dip as global trade jitters weigh on A2, F&P
NZ dollar set for weekly gain after Reserve Bank surprise
Burger Fuel exploring sale after review questions listing merits
New net migration data to remain rubbery for quite some time
NZX to push sales this year after reshaping business dents 2018 profit
Slowing new orders growth weighs on January PMI
New NZ dry dock a basis for new industry - KiwiRail
Wellington Drive beats 2H sales forecast, will meet earnings guidance
NZIQS decides more training is the answer to past president's misconduct
February 15th Morning Report


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Women business owners are optimistic about the year ahead for both their own companies and the overall US economy, according to a recent report from the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and Web.com.
The report was based on data from an annual survey of 306 women in the United States who are members of NAWBO.
Respondents expressed a significant increase in optimism for improved business performance and the overall economic outlook in 2015 compared with 2014, marking a three-year upward trend: 93% of women are optimistic about their business' performance this year, and 90% are optimistic about the economic outlook.
Below, additional key findings from the report.
New Woman-Owned Businesses
Optimism for new woman-owned businesses dropped a bit from last year, though a clear majority of respondents (88%) still predict more women will start a business this year.
Motivators for Starting a Business
Some 29% of respondents say they started their own business because they had an idea they wanted to implement; other motivators include always having wanted to be an entrepreneur (19%), and wanting to solve a specific industry problem (12%).
Motherhood and Business Ownership
Some 30% of respondents say they would definitely recommend that a mother start her own business, 66% would do so with caveats, and 4% would not recommend it.
About the research: The report was based on data from an annual survey of 306 women in the United States who are members of NAWBO.
Continue reading "The State of Woman-Owned Businesses in 2015" ... Read the full article
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Panasonic has inked a deal to incorporate the CableLabs-specified OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP) into its line of cable-ready digital TV, set-tops and other two-way cable devices.
Panasonic marks the second consumer electronics company to sign the two-way accord, dubbed the CableCARD Host Interface Licensing Agreement (CHILA). Samsung and LG Electronics are the other two.
Panasonic was the first major CE manufacturer to sign the original one-way agreement.
"We're pleased that Panasonic is once again among the leaders in taking the initiative to expand its digital television products to the two-way level so quickly," said CableLabs President and CEO Dr. Richard Green.
The latest agreement gives Panasonic access to certain intellectual property rights needed to build interactive devices based on the OpenCable specification. A key component to the spec is an interface that supports removable security modules called CableCARDs. The CableCARD is also a key to the one-way "Plug & Play" agreement between the cable and CE industries for set-top-free digital televisions. A more complex version of that deal has yet to be finalized, though OCAP support is almost a given.
The absence of a two-way Plug & Play agreement has not stopped operators and TV manufacturers from making deals on their own. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, and Charter Communications signed two-way agreements with Samsung.


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In China, Candia baby milk starts to sell in store
Chinese consumers can buy infant milk powder, liquid UHT milk and flavored milks (adults and children). The French group is expected to open before the end of the year, ten more stores in major cities in the region.
Shops with the colors of French soil in a modern and refined atmosphere, with pictures of babies and milk bottles. This is the choice of Candia to tackle the Chinese market. The first store opened its doors last week in Wenzhou (Zhejiang province – south of Shanghai) which has 60 million inhabitants and 700,000 births per year. Ten other stores are expected to open before the end of the year in major cities of the region.
For its first steps in China, Candia has chosen to partner with a local distributor, which delivers 3.3 billion in revenue. In these 100% Candia shops, Chinese consumers who are more and more eager to milk imported because of the multiplication of food scandals will be advised by salers formed by Candia. The young mother can be reassured about the origin and the quality of the milk “made in France”.
Milks for children and adults
She can buy infant milk powder Babylait Candia, liquid UHT milk and flavored milks Candia Candia and Candy’up (adults and children). “We want to expand the supply of milk in China,” said Giampaolo Schiratti, CEO of Candia, which achieved a turnover of 1.2 billion euros last year.
Candia, who invented twenty years ago the segment of liquid milk childhood in France, in fact, chose to focus on these high-growth markets for eighteen months in China. Still small, the market for flavored milk has already surpassed that of UHT milk. Eventually, the company could offer milk dedicated to the Chinese market.
Number one in France in a market milk in structural decline, Candia is now on the lookout for new growth. After conducting in France a restructuring plan to restore its competitiveness, Candia (sealed last year by an operating loss of 26 million euros year) wants to go forward. By further enhancing its product portfolio. And by addressing the export, which represents only 10% of its turnover.
Candia is not the first Westerner to want to take advantage of the Chinese windfall. Danone, Nestle, Abbott Mead Johnson have already begin to sell their premium milk powder. Last month, the Isigny cooperative announced to turn a partnership with the Chinese brand of high quality milk Biostime allowing it to become one of its exclusive suppliers.
But competition in the Western view is not always a good look in the Middle Kingdom accusing these players have benefited from the distrust of Chinese parents to inflate their prices. And because the West has delighted nearly half the market. So, after an investigation for price fixing of infant milk, several international groups – first and foremost Nestlé (Wyeth) and Danone (Dumex) – were forced earlier this month to announce a lower their prices.
see more about infant milk scandal in China


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Because food connects us all, Yahoo Life is serving up a heaping plateful of table talk with people who are passionate about what's on their menu in Deglazed, a series about food.
Tyler Florence is known as a Food Network superstar. With 16 cookbooks, multiple television show credits and a growing list of restaurants to his name, the 51-year old prides himself in being one of the cooking network's most popular chefs.
The culinary mogul recently signed another five-year contract with Food Network, started his 17th cookbook and entered a deal with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to open two new restaurants in Hawaii and Colorado. But he says it seems like yesterday that he was a kid growing up in the northwestern South Carolina town of Greenville.
"As a person who grew up here," says Florence, speaking with Yahoo Life during his homecoming appearance in Greenville for the destination's Euphoria food wine and music festival. "I was very, very interested in food as a young kid, and started really committing to the restaurant life and working in restaurants here in Greenville when I was 13 years old. A lot of [those] restaurants have long-since closed, but those are the places that gave me a commitment to hospitality and food service."
"Looking back and seeing the oysters and the pimento cheese and biscuits — that's who I am as a person and how I got on that interesting track from South Carolina to New York City to California," he adds.
As a Southern boy at heart, Florence says there are certain foods that take him straight back to his childhood. "South Carolina tastes like ... hickory-smoked," he says. "It's pork shoulder, it's ribs and then you kind of get into the down-and-dirty side dishes like collard greens cooked down all day with a ham hock, fried okra, really good mac and cheese and macaroni salad."
But when faced with a choice between cornbread, rolls or biscuits on the side, he can't possibly choose.
"I'd probably pull off a little of each," he says, "but I think with cornbread, it depends on the cornbread."
His favorite cornbread? The kind straight from the box, which is what his mom would make. "I think the boxed kind is like cornbread cake," he says. "It has a high sugar quality to it and I kind of like that, to be honest."
But there's a type of cornbread from his youth that haunts the Worst Cooks in America judge. "My grandmother used to make cornbread that was really dry," he recalls. "She would make it in a big cast iron pan and it was dry as a bone, like you couldn't swallow it — it was this dry-ass cornbread. It was always a big thing but I didn't want to eat it."
Today, Florence says everything he cooks is "filtered through the flavor profile of a kid from the South."
"Growing up in the South, I like to say everything's kind of brown and good," he says. "If you look at pictures of Southern food it's like … universally beige … but those colors are delicious and you take that from a cooking standpoint and know that the flavors are the most important part from an execution standpoint."
"I've had a chance to introduce people all around the country to flavors of the South," he adds, "and it'll always stick with me as a significant part of who I am."
Another significant part of the Great Food Truck Race host's career is mentoring the next generation of chefs. During his time visiting his hometown, he met with high school students interested in the culinary arts to share his own story of his rise to culinary fame with them. He also visits his alma mater, Johnson and Wales University, often to mentor rising chefs.
"I think in a lot of ways that's really where my heart's at," he says. "We try to make sure [culinary students] have a clear contemporary role model of somebody who is not of a bygone era — somebody who is out there in the workplace right now and has stood at the frontline of the industry and can let them know the life is going to be great and they're choosing a fantastic career."
And, after 26 years on television, Florence says he's found his work with food truck owners extremely rewarding as well. "Right now there's over 47,000 active food trucks in America, and we did that — The Great Food Truck Race did that," he says. "It's in its 16th season and we've proven that this tiny little niche in the industry has now been carved out as part of the restaurant culture in America."
So what advice does Florence have for aspiring food truck owners?
"If you really hustle, you can put six figures a year in your pocket — and if you have two trucks. you can double that," he says. "There's a new path to take versus just saying you're going to have a brick-and-mortar restaurant inside four walls — you can take four wheels and have a legitimate business."
Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life’s newsletter. Sign up here.


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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
INVESTOR RELATIONS INTL:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 27, 2007
LJ INTERNATIONAL TO PRESENT AT ROTH CAPITAL
PARTNERS NEW YORK CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 5-6, 2007
HONG KONG and LOS ANGELES, August 27, 2007 — LJ International, Inc. (LJI) (Nasdaq/GM: JADE),
one of the fastest growing jewelry companies in the world and, through its brand name ENZO, the largest foreign
jewelry retailer in China, today announced that Haris Tajyar, the Company’s investor relations representative, will
be presenting at the upcoming Roth Capital Partners 2007 New York Conference. LJI is scheduled to present
on Thursday, September 6th, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time to be followed by a breakout session. The conference
will be held from September 5-6, 2007 at the Westin New York at Times Square in New York City.
The Company will also be available for one-on-one meetings throughout the conference. Meetings may be
arranged by contacting Roth Capital Partners or Haris Tajyar at email@example.com or 818-382-9702.
LJ International’s presentation is scheduled to be webcast live and a replay of the webcast will be available
shortly following the presentation. The link to the live webcast and replay will be available in the investor relations
section of LJ International’s corporate Website at www.ljintl.com or at Roth Capital’s site at www.rothcp.com .
The Roth Capital Partners 2007 New York Conference will feature a unique combination of companies that are
representative of Roth’s existing research universe and its continued focus on undiscovered companies. This
year’s conference will feature presentations from more than 200 small and micro caps in the Technology,
Healthcare, Financial Services and Consumer Products sectors. For more information about Roth Capital
Partners and this conference visit www.rothcp.com .
To be added to LJI’s investor lists, please contact Haris Tajyar at firstname.lastname@example.org or at 81


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The LATEST News and views from our in-house experts
Sometimes the best hiding place is the one in plain sight. That’s exactly where the greatest vulnerability of your office environment is hiding.
Data security is the deciding factor for 9/10 customers, how can you build trust in the digital age?
New technology can have a real benefit to your staff and business, by improving patient and resident care. Helping vulnerable people to live in their own home for longer...
The cyber stakes have changed for the C-suite. A new report offers five recommendations for boards and the C-suite to confront cyber risk.
Cybersecurity in the care services industry has been a growing concern over the past few years. And with the arrival of GDPR, fears about pitfalls could become more widespread.
To ensure your business is compliant with the new law, you need to understand the new requirements and how best to apply them in practice. Here's how your business can prepare for the changes.
As a recruiter or umbrella company, you may feel that you have secure enough processes in place to escape fraud and dishonesty scams. But are you fully aware of the types of scams you might be facing?
Changes to manufacturing processes will alter the risk profile of the industry and businesses. Make sure you’re prepared for these risks, as well as the opportunities.


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It’s that time of year when we try to predict what will be happening in the world of video production in 2018! We’re always looking for the latest trends to offer to clients, and whilst you can never guarantee what the next big thing will be, here are a few things to look out for in the coming year:
Every few years, there is a new standard in the quality of video. Currently, everyone expects their video to appear in full HD – think back to the last time you have seen any current video in anything less!
However, new cameras and TVs are now starting to have 4K capabilities. Video streaming sites such as YouTube and Vimeo, are now following suit and give users the option to upload 4K footage. Currently, only the fastest internet speeds are suitable to stream this kind of video. However just like when HD footage first arrived, it won’t be too long before everyone can stream footage of that quality.
Once it is the standard, then brands and PRs will expect videos to be shot in that format, otherwise their videos will soon look out of date.
As well as looking better than HD, 4K video is really helpful for videographers as they can zoom in on footage quite a bit without a huge decrease in quality. This means that if you need to correct framing, or even make it appear that you have shot an interview with two or three cameras, then shooting in 4K can help.
A few years ago, high-end technology such as drones and 360-degree cameras would cost thousands. However, as they have increased in popularity, companies are making more affordable versions for the consumer market. This is great news for PR videos especially as budgets are shrinking!
Rise of in-house videographers
Affordable tech has enabled news websites and brands to have their own in-house video team – this is a trend that I can see continuing into next year and beyond. This means that PRs and video production companies have to provide the clients and media outlets what they cannot produce themselves and therefore, a reason to use or take content from an external agency.
Recently some outlets such as the MailOnline have been asking for B-roll instead of an online package, which means that they can use our footage and create a video that fits in the style of the video content that they usually create.
However, if the online package you create is high quality, resonates with the right audience, and, most importantly will not be seen as an advert, it stands a better chance of being used.
Video streaming is already extremely popular and more social media sites are implementing streaming options into their sites. While streaming directly to Facebook or Twitter is a great idea and works well with certain audiences, I think the next big trend will be more high-end streaming.
White label streaming sites offer a more sophisticated experience than streaming directly into a social media channel. The stream will be hosted on its own dedicated page, or can be embedded directly into your own website, meaning that the stream will carry all of your own branding.
Monitoring the audience is much more accurate when using a white label host. This is because everyone who has taken the time to log onto the website will be interested in the stream, rather than coming across it randomly on Facebook.
The video landscape is constantly changing. As a videographer I have to keep on my toes, and it is really interesting to watch new trends develop over time. If you have any questions or comments about video production, please get in touch!
You can call 0207 240 7373 or email email@example.com.


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5 Platforms Marketers Across The Globe Are Guilty Of Overusing
By Janice Tan
Marketers globally have identified Instagram as their preferred platform to target consumers, according to Kantar’s latest Media Reactions 2022. Google rose one spot to come in second followed by YouTube and TikTok. Tiktok, in particular, rose three spots this year to reach fourth position and according to Kantar, 84% of marketers plan to spend more on TikTok next year, more than any other global ad platform.
Media Reactions is Kantar’s global ad equity ranking of media channels and media brands which identifies the places where consumers most appreciate advertising and are least likely to view ads negatively. It surveyed 18,000 consumers and 1,000 senior marketers in 29 markets this year, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the US.
On the other hand, Amazon was the most popular ad platform among consumers this year as they found the ads to be relevant, useful and of better quality. Amazon advertising was also the most preferred brand locally in Germany, Italy, Egypt, and Colombia, and in the top five in four other markets including Korea.
TikTok came in second for ad equity among consumers followed by Spotify and Google. Spotify, in particular, jumped four places and Kantar said this represents the constantly growing music streaming channels and podcast. Its strength mainly comes from the perception of quality ads and consumer’s willingness to accept advertising on the platform. Spotify placed first in Vietnam and was in the top three in Japan and Korea.
Changing perception of TikTok ads
While marketers might have been a little wary about advertising on TikTok last year, Pablo Gomez, head of creative and media at Kantar in Singapore and APAC media lead, explained that TikTok hit the sweet spot this year of maintaining its innovation status whilst having earned marketers’ trust.
Trust and innovation are the two biggest factors affecting marketers’ perception of media brands. Gomez said the rising trust in TikTok over the last few years from a novel platform to a social media mainstay has given marketers the confidence to invest. As a result, TikTok has become one of the two brands that appeal the most to both consumers and marketers in 2022, along with Google.
At the same time, marketers also expect to increase their marketing investment in the metaverse by 61% next year, according to Kantar. Overall, digital media spend is predicted to continue increasing in 2023. Online video, video streaming and social media stories are the top three channels with a net increase in budget allocation in 2022 and 2023, followed by marketing in the metaverse.
Within the digital environment, influencer content leads the way as the preferred ad format, with a six-point jump in ad equity, followed by eCommerce and podcast ads. According to Kantar, influencer content is seen as more trustworthy, more fun and entertaining, and more relevant and useful than in 2021.
This also extends to online channels in general, as consumers now find online display ads significantly more trustworthy, more fun and entertaining, better quality and more innovative than last year. Meanwhile, social media story ads and music streaming ads both improved one position in comparison to last year’s results.
On the other hand, offline advertising continues to witness a downward trend. In fact, marketers plan to further cut ad spend on print next year and consumers no longer view physical newspapers and magazines as separate from the online versions.
That said, there are still positive ad equity trends among offline channels and this mainly covers sponsored events and OOH platforms as markets have reopened. Sponsored events take the top spot ths year and are seen as offering more fun and better quality advertising compared to last year. They also now have the highest ad equity among consumers, Kantar said.
According to Kantar, sponsored events account for one of the highest increases in ad spend in offline channels alongside digital OOH. Although traditional TV advertising might be a major investment for many brands, some still intend to increase their investment in TV in 2023 as its channel receptivity jumps this year by 7%. Kantar said that this movement, along with a high rise in streaming TV spend, shows TV is still here to stay.
Credit: Marketing Interactive


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Denver’s Call to Arms Brewing Co. changing name of Shirtless Putin beer due to Ukraine invasion
A Denver brewery is changing the name of one of its Vladimir Putin-themed beers and donating a portion of sales to support aid efforts in Ukraine.
Call to Arms Brewing Co. on Tennyson Street originally debuted its Shirtless Putin beer series in 2016 as “a pointed criticism of Russian propaganda,” according to a statement. The first recipe was a barrel-aged imperial Baltic porter with coffee called Shirtless Putin Nuzzling with Dolphins. Eventually, its dark Czech lager, Shirtless Putin Catchin’ Rays, became a staple on the menu.
“While we often like to poke fun at ourselves, timely events, and cultural moments as a whole, at the core of Call to Arms we stand behind human decency and condemn the action of Russia’s
escalating aggression against Ukraine,” brewery founder Chris Bell said in a statement. “As a result, we no longer feel it is appropriate to reference Putin on our beers regardless of the original intent of the series.”
Bell and company have yet to decide on a new name for the beer, but while it undergoes a rebranding, Call to Arms and its distributor, Two Six Craft Distributors, have committed to donating $1 from every six-pack of cans sold to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) aid efforts in Ukraine. Six-packs are available for purchase at the brewery (4526 Tennyson St., Denver) and liquor stores along the Front Range.
Call to Arms Brewing Co. isn’t the only business reconsidering its branding in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A restaurant in Austin, Texas, formerly called Russian House dropped the word “Russian” from its name (it’s now The House) in a show of solidarity with Ukrainians, the Austin-American Statesman reported.
Subscribe to our new food newsletter, Stuffed, to get Denver food and drink news sent straight to your inbox.


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LG Electronics and LG Display are going to install several large OLED "sculptures" using several OLED TVs at the N Seoul Tower. LG will install the sculptures in shapes such as a tunnel, a wave and a cylinder. In total, LG will use 250 55" OLED TV panels.
LG decided to promote their OLED TVs using "aggressive marketing". A few days ago the company unveiled a huge 13x8 meter OLED display at Seoul's Incheon airport, made from 140 individual 55" OLED panels.


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China’s largest messaging app and one of the country’s biggest payment services, WeChat, will start supporting the country’s sovereign digital currency, CNBC reported.
With over 1 billion users, Tencent-owned WeChat is expected to provide China's digital yuan (e-CNY) with a huge push if its users start using it as a payment option through its platform.
It's worth noting that WeChat is not more than a messaging app. It provides its users with an umbrella of services such as making payments through WeChat Pay (over 800 million monthly active users), hailing taxis and ordering food.
WeChat Pay users can simply pay for items in store by showing merchants a barcode on their phone which can also be used for online purchases.
Although China has been working on the digital yuan since 2014, it hasn't been rolled out nationwide yet.
© 2000 - 2023 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)


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The owner of one local restaurant called this morning to say his food distributor sent out a letter this week alerting customers of the egg recall. The owner sent back a case of unopened eggs. No eggs that fall under the recall were used at the restaurant, the owner said.
We're spending time this morning researching the local impact of Wright County Egg's recall. The Iowa company said it sold eggs to distributors in 10 states, including Wisconsin. The distributors then sold the shelled eggs around the country.
Here's what we know so far:
- Piggly Wiggly and Roundy's (Pick N Save) both said they do not carry Wright County Eggs and were not impacted by the recall.
- Kenosha's Baker Street Pub and Restaurant reported 21 customers received salmonella poisoning, likely from Wright County Eggs.
- The Egg Safety Board says less than 1 percent of all eggs nationwide are affected by the recall. Odds are pretty good you won't be affected.
We also got some interesting feedback through our Facebook page. Backyard chicken supporters are crowing a bit today over the recall. They're noting that just because an egg comes from the store, doesn't mean it's safe. We'll see if the egg recall plays into the City Council's decision about backyard chickens.


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ProShip is excited to announce the launch of Packcity Intelligent Parcel Lockers!
The most convenient click and collect solution for customer deliveries at residences, retailers, universities, corporations and other locations.
Request More Information About Packcity Parcel Lockers
Residential management teams are increasingly overwhelmed by vast amounts of parcel deliveries with nowhere to store them. Packcity Intelligent Parcel Lockers can eliminate this inconvenience not only for residents and building owners, but retailers as well. The intelligent lockers can help to eliminate the hassle of parcel pick-up and drop-off for online shoppers.
Packcity Parcel Lockers are an automated electronic locker system that securely stores packages for easy consumer retrieval. They provide a reliable and secure solution for consumers seeking convenience when collecting packages. Whether you are looking to pick-up or drop-off parcels, Packcity automated lockers offer the most convenient click and collect solution for customer deliveries at residences, retailers, universities, corporations and other locations.
Online shopping continues to grow at a fast pace. Recent studies conducted by Forrester Research Inc. and The Commerce Department show that U.S. online retail sales are expected to increase to $334 billion in 2015 and should reach nearly $500 billion by 2018. Just think what that means in regards to parcels! With an increase in e-commerce sales, the amount of parcels that are to be delivered will only continue to rise.
Packcity Parcel Lockers enable your customers to conveniently pick up packages on their own time!
In three easy steps, consumers can retrieve their packages 24/7:
Package is delivered and placed into the locker. Recipient receives notification of delivery by email or SMS.
Recipient enters one-time PIN code.
Door opens for package retrieval.
The launch of Packcity Parcel Lockers is part of the Neopost commitment to innovation and technology, providing a secure and reliable solution for retailers and other shippers. Best of all, Packcity lockers save time and money for building owners, managers and retailers, while providing a valuable service to residents and consumers.


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Chicago — Insights collected by Barry Callebaut find that health and sustainability are top-of-mind and will be the focus moving into 2022. The company’s report on chocolate trends also identifies experiencing indulgent flavors in new forms. This is Barry Callebaut’s third ‘Top Chocolate Trends’ report for North America.
“As the leader in chocolate and cocoa, we have a unique perspective on the latest consumer insights and innovation in chocolate confectionery. We are excited to help fuel growth for leading brands and manufacturers by responding to these trends,” TJ Mulvihill, vice-president of marketing — North America, says.
The company says it is clear that as snack cravings continue to evolve and consumers seek products that are good for them and the planet, manufacturers will need to find ways to incorporate new flavors and textures while also committing to use ingredients that will not harm the environment.
Indulgent Moments — As the pandemic continues, consumers are turning to indulgences to seek happiness, pleasure and to celebrate. Chocolate is one of the first places they look to indulge; 65 percent of U.S. consumers agree that chocolate is their favorite indulgence, and 70 percent of U.S. consumers choose chocolate for their celebrations, according to research from Barry Callebaut.
Good for Me — The COVID-19 pandemic had many consumers turning to better-for-you alternatives to their favorite treats in an effort to boost their immune systems, a trend Barry Callebaut identified in 2021. Wellbeing is a priority for North American consumers, and 71 percent say they are actively trying to improve their diet, according to FMCG Gurus research. Though they are looking for healthier options, consumers don’t want to compromise on taste. Barry Callebaut data shows 61 percent wish there were healthier chocolate options, products that deliver the same quality of taste but have reduced sugar, are plant-based, or are all-around good for their body.
Chocolate I Trust — When consumers are choosing their next chocolate indulgence, they want something that won’t harm the environment. With the state of the environment looming over the minds of 80 percent of North American consumers, FMCG Gurus notes, in addition sustainable chocolate is a must, and consumers trust products that clearly communicate sustainability or transparency.
Taking New Forms — As more people are staying home — whether for work or at-home celebrations — snacking has become more common. To keep up with the demand for snacks, companies are creating new chocolate formats and categories. Mintel Group Ltd. reports 42 percent of consumers say that trying new snack flavors adds excitement to their everyday routines, especially when the flavors fit the season, such as pumpkin spice in the fall or peppermint in the winter.
Jenna McFarland, consumer & marketing insight manager, for Barry Callebaut, explains: “This year’s ‘Top Chocolate Trends’ were developed by our team of chocolate segment experts and is inspired by data and insights from our own primary research as well as data obtained from multiple leading industry sources. This report demonstrates Barry Callebaut’s thought leadership and deep understanding of the chocolate consumer and marketplace.”